Update!

The kids are snoozing. The house is a war zone. But I have some cute pictures, so I thought I’d hurry and blog. I need to hurry you see, my dead line for cleaning the house is 2:30. Someone is stopping by anytime between then and 4. Since I’m feeling lazy today, I’ll probably wait until minutes before and then I’ll be doing the mad dash. Oh WELL!  These pictures are cute… they must not wait a second longer!!!!

Julia’s curls. They melt me… and her Dad too. She has him wrapped so tight around all of her little fingers, it is NOT EVEN FUNNY!!!!!!

 

This week the kids and I loaded up first thing Tuesday morning (When I say first thing, I am NOT KIDDING!!!  Julia decided she was done sleeping for the night at 3 AM. At 5 when I realized she was not going back to sleep PERIOD, I packed our clothes and we were out the door!) to go and visit J.D. and Ashlynn, and Madie.

We had so much fun. Kevin and Julia adore J.D. and Ashlynn. They were SO EXCITED to get there they could hardly see straight. I’m almost certain their swimming pool has nothing to do with the excitement!!!

While there we were able to visit Uncle J.D.’s work. Kevin loved Down town St. Paul. These were his words, “Wow Mom, look at this place. It’s soo cool, how come I’ve never been here before!?”  The kind security guard let us all come inside, which Julia was very very excited about. Who wouldn’t want to see where Uncle J.D. works. After we ate lunch on the Pier over looking the Mississippi River. It was a very beautiful view. Once our bellies were filled to the top we headed over to a little park that had a Giant sized lawn chair.

Of course we swam every night. The kids are getting braver and braver in the water. With convincing from Aunt Ash, Kevin jumped in without anyone to catch him and did so well. Of course then Julia wanted to do it too, which she did, but when she jumps she jumps straight up in the air and tucks her knees to her chest, BARELY missing the edge each time.  Her life jacket was a touch to big so I had to hold on to her the whole time. MUCH to her dismay. I got pretty good and it though and sometimes she thought she was doing it all on her own.  Once we got home, she still had birthday money from Granny and Pa and Great Grandpa and Grandma Gray so we went and got her a life jacket that is just her size. (Thank you for sending her money!!!  We’ll get a lot of use out of this life jacket!)  She’s very excited to go back now and use it.

We also went to Lego Land at Mall of America. How super awesome it was!!!!  I wish I’d remembered to grab my camera off of the kitchen counter before going. All of my pictures are cell phone pictures.  I only took a few pictures because the lighting wasn’t great, but Kevin’s favorite thing was a lego man on motorcycle and a lego man propelling from a helicopter. To put the size into perspective. The Lego Men were the same size as Kevin.  They were super awesome. My pictures are of Woody,  knight on a horse, a Dragon that wrapped around the entire place, and a ‘painting’!

The kids were in J.D.’s back pocket when he was at home. He would watch Dragon Tales with them, which they loved. And Julia was giving Ashlynn a play by play of EVERYTHING she was doing the entire time.

I was able to witness Madie Pie take 3 or 4 steps on her own at Mall of America. It was also exciting that moments after walking in the door she crawled up to me and held her arms out to me!!!  It made my day. I wish I were closer to my other nieces and nephews so they’d do the same thing.

On Sunday night I was laying in bed with Julia and she rolled over and said, “Mom is it ok if I go to the toilet and use the bathroom?” Of course I said YES!!!  She ran right in and went. First thing Monday we put unders on her and Monday afternoon she threw away her last diaper. I had planned to start this when we got home from Minnesota but since she was on board and since she is quite stubborn we just dived in. Day 2 driving to Minnesota she had one accident at J.D’s house when we first got there. Day 3 she had 2 accidents, and so far today she has only had 1. Yesterday she would just sit down on the floor and say Uh OH! It did not mean it was too late, it meant, PICK ME UP AND RUN!!!! But as of this morning she has been telling us every time.  I’m so proud of her, and it has been LOVELY to not have to change a single diaper or get out a single wet wipe in 4 days. LOOOOOVE IT!!!

The following information may offend you…

BUT..

I won the mother of the year award today.

Even ask my kids.

Lately Kevin has been getting out one of Cody’s Harley T-Shirts and a hair clip and clipping it around his neck. He calls himself, the People Safer. (Saver)

I told him yesterday on the way home from St. Paul, as he was using a wet wipe as a mask, that I’d make him a super hero cape today.

He was AMAZED that I could make such a thing for him. And does NOT believe me when I tell him that I can not make gloves for him. (Really, I’m no seamstress.)

When I was putting laundry away a bit ago, I noticed his cape is neatly folded in his drawer with the mask sitting on top.

Don’t worry, I don’t win the Mother of the Year Award too often.

Maybe tomorrow can be your turn!!!!